If you have not yet met, Lauren's cousin Joanne, then you may not understand. Here's a little background on her: She's a wily minx of a beautiful human mermaid who cannot and will not be put off! Lauren was minding her single life business in Philly and Sam was playing soccer and embracing his bachelor status in the burbs. Then BOOM, Joanne comes along and INSISTS that these two MUST meet. Both get a rundown from Joanne on the other and are shown a few pictures from social media. Both felt like it definitely, under no circumstances, would work out. After all, they seemed to be in different places in life, literally. However, Joanne will not be deterred. She refuses to let these two not meet. She prods and pushes and says "just one drink"! And if you know Joanne, you know it is fruitless to fight against her powers. Alas, they both cave in, after all, it's just one drink. Sam and Lauren meet at a bar in Philly called Strange Love's. They wind up talking for hours, losing track of the time, and the rest is history.